yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Vaanhoot:
I have never used a tablet yet so I am only talking about the limited knowledge I have accumulated from flashing my phone (Rogers Captivate) hundreds of times. There are bootloader and firmware packages you can flash. If you flash a bootloader package you can hard brick your phone if it fails. If you flash a package that has no bootloader (most of the custom roms) you cannot brick your phone as bootloader handles the download or flashing mode. You have option to have froyo or gingerbread bootloader on my phone atm. That bootloader doesn't change when flashing a custom rom. So bootloader on my phone handles the boot sequence before handing it over to the kernel and firmware. For an example, my phone always says I896 when booting as I am using the I896 bootloader, after that it loads the kernel screen then rom screen. The rom and kernel screens can change depending on the rom I am running but the bootloader screen doesn't. It might be different for a tablet though.

Sent from my SGH-I896 running MIUI.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] bubigrega:
You installed ROM that bricked or damaged your device. Your fault... You maybe can revert back to stock. Now you are stealing from manufacturer. I pay for my mistakes. You obviously don't wont to...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] compuw22c:
To those claiming Samsung lets you keep your warranty, your wrong.flashing an unsigned rom via odin ups a "custom firmware counter" and adds a yellow triangle during boot so they can deny you warranty. That being said, i had the S1, now S2, couldn't be happier and understand their position. Raise your hand if you REALLY dont think you'll ever overclock this awesome thing up to 1.7 or beyond. I know i will, carefully and incrementally like every pc and phone I've ever had. Some will brick because they cant follow directions or got too far and thats what this protects them from. THANK YOU ASUS!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] briant97:
So Dell voids warranties if you install any other OS? When did that start happening?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] theizzardking:
Pretty sure your the small minded idiot here, just because most of us here are clued in doesn't mean everyone is, like any law or policy its made for the lowest common denominator, asus has no idea who is out there and what they are trying to do with thier device, so they have to make policies to protect themselves, being from the uk you of all people should understand this, you have to get health and safety courses just to wipe your own butt in that country because somewhere someone did it wrong and hurt themselves, asus is being no different in trying to protect themselves from the stupidity of the mass population, lets face it the population on a whole is chocked full of morons bumbling through life , what happens when these people try flashing roms and over clocking, also there's more to it then just flahing roms, sometimes you can't revert back to stock if you did something really stupid, and i don't think asus should have to pay for the stupidity of society...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] josteink:
Since US idiots who think companies' rights are more important than their took over these boards.

Most people in this thread are absolute morons, and I stand by it.

It seems like, once again, freedom is something the Europeans will have to fight for and enforce.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ToneyEricsson:
I've never bricked a device in the countless times of flashing ROMS and kernels flashed and also have a fully intact warranty on all my devices.

If your so scared of doing anything with Android in fear of bricking I really don't understand why even be on a development community forum like XDA and especially in a thread about rooting. Very funny!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] UmbraeSoulsbane:
Nope. Google Rental and DRM work with unlocked bootloaders including the Galaxy Nexus. Root breaks Google DRM, but the bootloader has nothing to do with this. ASUS just used this and stability as a "consumer friendly" reason for locking it down. I expected the bootloader to be locked and the warranty broken as this is standard practice; ENCRYPTING the bootloader is just a **** move.

Although I am glad they will provide a tool to unlock it, I wish they would just be truthful or silent rather than use some BS reason for locking it down.

For a company that has been a popular choice for overclocking PC builders, this is just a major disappointment. Honestly, without an open apology for being a douchebag I am not sure I can be 100% happy with ASUS, but at least an unlocker will be available if they follow through.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] bubigrega:
You are ****ing moron.

Americans had their share of fighting for freedom in Europe. Europe invented nacist, kings...

And I'm from Europe.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Norcalz71:
So just as an aside on the argument to clarify: Some of you assert that it is a consumer RIGHT to do whatever they want with a product and still maintain a warranty by the manufacturer provided you demonstrate your product failure was a result of the base product and not as a result of your usage and/or alteration?

Step back and think about the potential case-by-case financial burden that puts on a manufacturer, especially with a complex item like a tablet or a computer...No one is forcing anyone to buy these products if they don't like the terms.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ModestMuse23:
Just stop it, you are making yourself look incredibly stupid.

If you run unauthorized software, you lose your warranty. This has nothing to do with freedom, it's just how business is. Asus can't be responsible for you overclocking and running your tablet at voltages it wasn't designed for.

It's really a simple concept that has been true with every Android device ever made, but you want to show your ignorance and beat your chest about it. I'm sure people here will continue to put you in your place.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] josteink:
If the bootloader is not locked so that the customer can load up the OS once again when it breaks (like you can on a regular PC) a botched flashing or mod job wont be a warranty-job.

I don't call Dell to reinstall Windows.

By locking up the bootloader they are forcing customers to make it a warranty-issue since they are unable to resolve the issue themselves.

If I buy a full fledged PC (and a €500+ tablet is just that, plus touchscreen) I expect to be able to use it as I like, with reasonable abilities to repair it myself.

A machine which wont boot because of faulty software is still a perfectly good machine.

I'm not asking for them to put in a ****load of work so that people who **** things up can get back up. I'm asking them NOT to put in a ****load of work so that even the most skilled people out there CAN NOT what is a very simple software issue.

Is this an unreasonable request?

Right now they are putting in a ****-ton of effort to lock people out from fixing things themselves. To make trivial software-issues which should take 5 minutes to fix on an open system into weeks-gone-by warranty repeairs at "authorized service centers".

They are spending lots of time and money into making the product worse for everyone involved.

Except for the fact that if they get away with it, you no longer own your PC. You rent it, but paid the full purchase-price anyway.

How on earth can that be so hard to get?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] bubigrega:
Well I'm posting from HTC Sensation running ICS ROM. Have Desire sitting at home for testing different things. Repaird my HTC Desire HD GPS by opening backplate and fixing position of antenna...

And had no brick mainly because I read. I think.

But I know that if I brick my device this will be result of my actions. So I'm to be blamed not the manufacturer...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] josteink:
I have not once suggested nor mentioned overclocking.

I am talking about the right to chose what software I run on hardware I own.

Jesus you guys are thick.

How I use that right (responsibly or irresponsibly) is another thing. Irresponsible behaviour of any kind can void warranty. No need to lock the bootloaders and increasing the chance I might actually have to return the unit in cases of trivial software-failures.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ajkid93:
What makes us idiots? I mean every single tablet/phone manufacturer says that rooting/flashing roms/changing kernels will lead to voiding the warranty. Literally every single company, there is not one single one that doesn't say that. This is because customizing it can seriously mess it up, that is why even the devs here say use at your own ****ing risk. It is nothing like OS and computers, because it is impossible to brick a computer (just using an OS). If you flash a new bios then maybe, because without a working bios you can't get past post. You europeans seem so smart, but really it is the companies right to lock down a device to possibly do two or three things.

a. Prevents many morons (as you say) from bricking it and then smashing it so know one knows that some imbecile bricked it. This way they won't have to lose money replacing a device that is not broken because of them.

b. As Asus says it allows us to have Netflix and other goodies due to the DRM. I remember when the first unlocked device that I had came out, the Viewsonic Gtablet, and it lacked Netflix support. Why? Because it had an unlocked bootloader which made it susceptible to certain issues like stealing multimedia content.

c. They realize that an unlocked device can prove to reduce sales when they want to release a Windows 8 or Ubuntu tablet, because an unlocked bootloader may allow us to install other ARM variants of an OS. If everyone knew how to do this, do you think that Asus would release a Windows 8 tablet? No, because it would not serve to make them money.

Another word is that if you want a developers tablet wait until the nexus tablet comes out. Though, I think google will say the same thing about voiding the warranty. They have done this since the OG Droid (the first open dev phone, even though it is motorola's phone) and continue to do it. The Nexus One was no different, I knew I voided my warranty when I flashed Gingerbread on it for the first time. Simply put if you flash it you crash it (void the warranty).
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] grusher:
The irony in this statement is incredible
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ToneyEricsson:
Well you know the risks as everyone does but that doesn't mean we have to throw away a warranty especially if an issue arises that isn't anything to do with putting a ROM with better functionality than was previously was with what the manufacturer put on it.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] josteink:
Are you enyoing that DRM-free music in the iTunes music store which the Europeans fought for? The very same DRM which the US government-protected arrested crypto-scientists to protect?

What irony are you talking about?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] bubigrega:
You are right about this. And think that Asus knows that they can only partially void your warranty (fried CPU yes, LCD no). But I know that in my country we have laws that will protect me as customer against voiding complete warranty.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Nuenjin:
Let's not turn this into a nationalist thing, that's how WWI got started. Even though I do think it amusing that the most ardent voices for product warranties covering haxor abuse are in Europe.

If you want an Asus, or HTC or Apple product, you play by their rules, even if those rules come from the software people or governmental bodies. So suck it!

If you don't like how they do it, go make your own tablet and tell the aforementioned to kiss your shiny metal ass.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Felimenta97:
I am too lazy to search over the 10 pages, when we will be able to unlock the bootloader? I mean, when they will release the things need for it?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] theizzardking:
I think the tool bag should just cancel his order so i don't have to read any of this drivel anymore ,the guy obviously has no experience in manufacturing anything and doesn't seem to understand all of the ramifications and possible problems that can arise from just handing over a 100% unlocked tablet to the public and telling them to have a go , again you troll, I'm a dual national, and can say this isn't either country being stupid, I'm pretty sure its just you...shut up already i spend your money elsewhere 99% are happy with the asus response to this issues and it only took them 2 days to make an announcement, i think that's pretty good compared to my sammy and moto stuff that takes weeks,months or sometimes not even mentioned ever....im still pissed about my droid charge.....lol
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ToneyEricsson:
Asus just say they are developing an unlock tool at the moment that will void warranty however developments seem to be happening quicker as usual here http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1426022
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Magnesus:
They didn't say.

About the European people complaining - we should complain the least because this voiding of warranty is almost unenforceable in EU anyway (unless the device was really broken by our tampering with ROMs of course). :)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] DanoUF:
In the U.S. we have the Magnuson-Moss act of 1975.

Here's a quick anecdotal explanation.

"Nearly everyone has heard about someone who has taken a vehicle that has been modified with aftermarket parts to a dealer for warranty service, only to have the dealer refuse to cover the defective items. The dealer usually states that because of the aftermarket parts the warranty is void, without even attempting to determine whether the aftermarket part caused the problem.

This is illegal."

The act applies to consumer products sold in the US, and essentially puts the burden of proof that a modification caused the issue onto the manufacturer. Unless your overclocking the chances a custom ROM will break the hardware is pretty minuscule I think ASUS may have trouble defending their position if someone decided to fight them.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] josuetenista:
I used to have a motorola atrix with locked bootloader. After months of waiting we were able to unlock our bootloaders, I unlocked mine flashed many roms kernels and after a couple of months I HARD BRICKED the cellphone! Sent it for warranty replacement and got a new one. I don't know how is the way motorola operates but I was lucky
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] NastroGlide:
You're not buying a windows pc, you're buying a tablet that may or may not be locked down. If someone bought one before all this was known, they may feel silly for not waiting until all the information comes out about the product they just bought. I don't buy pc's btw, I build them. There's a big difference there. If you just go out and buy a pc, then yes, you are locked down. You can't overclock a cpu on a dell mobo. Soooo, if modifying your equipment is your goal, then make sure its possible before buying something.

I wasn't implying anything about buying a windows pc. In fact, I never mentioned the Windows OS or a Personal Computer.

So like I said initially, gather all your brain power before arguing. Apparently you need to.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] goalkeepr:
I got a warranty through SquareTrade. Their terms say they cover rooted devices as long as the rooting wasn't the cause of the warranty claim.

Might be worth looking into if you're interested.

Edit: So it seems they say they cover jailbroken iphones but don't specifically address rooted phones. People on other forums have made claims for rooted phones though, so I am not worried.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Vaanhoot:
I rma my Samsung captivate when volume rocker broke with custom rom was on it. I was totally expecting to pay for the repair but samsung covered it. Asus might be willing to cover hardware defects with unlocked bootloader but by saying that your warranty is void if you do unlock it then it protects them from people's mistakes

Sent from my SGH-I896 running MIUI.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Ins0mniacs:
I'm going to post this for the last time please have a look at this!!!

The tech trend is heading in the direction of you not owning a PC but rather a gateway.

1. Your data will be on online storage rather then your hard drive (bad hackers snoops and gov's will love this option)

2. Your hardware will be locked see:uefi or this link http://www.computerbob.com/wp/uefi-bad-news-for-computer-user.php

this scenario is already happening in cellphone and tablets next up are your motherboards. Their selling technique is going to be security! (yeah right!!)

3. have a look at who is snooping on who keyword is :bundes trojaner.

4. the new cars are nothing but computers you have no more control over those.

in short : you can only slow down this trend but not stop it. Just remember when you loose all of your data you had the option to change it.

Key is not to just look at just one device but rather look around to guess where this is heading.

One more sample would be :blueray movies with digital copy: how long do you get to keep the digital copy before it expires? even though you paid?

Dont take me word for it (see links in sig)

peace
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] josteink:
But you can install any OS you like, and you are not dependent on Dell to provide you with software-updates for your hardware to be relevant.

Just because the HW doesn't allow overclocking doesn't mean you are locked down. It just means the HW can't do overclocking.

Why all this focus on overclocking anyway? I don't do it, and I know no other people (rooted to hell and back) who do it either. It is completely irrelevant to the discussion.

The point is simple:

It's hardware which I own and I demand the right to be able to control what software I run on it.

If I can't have that I don't own the device, I merely rent it from the vendor until they decide that it should be deprecated. While having to pay the full purchase price. And that's a scam.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] darth_suicune:
You own the device, but changes you do are out of the warranty limits, and that includes software, not just hardware. You are able to change what you want (they're providing the unlocker), you are just out of luck if you have problems after changing it. Anyway, ASUS might perfectly accept it if it's not caused by the changes you've made.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] josteink:
My point is that losing warranty over simply choosing what OS to boot is bull****.

It's not legal in the PC world and it shouldn't be legal in the world of Android either.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] darth_suicune:
It IS legal (and done) in the PC world. As i stated in the other thread, if you change YOUR WALLPAPER on your W7 Starter you're voiding the warranty. The fact is than in PC usually warranties are separated between hard and software (with their License Agreements that nobody wants to read...), so if you have software problems, the software provider is the responsible of the warranty, and if you have hardware problems, the assembler is responsible.

If you have problems with your Ubuntu (i prefer Debian btw) on your Dell machine... are you calling Dell to ask them why or tell them it's malfunctioning???

The fact is that ASUS here provides both hard and software (as the Android version is modified by themselves), so they're in the right to void the warranty, which does not mean that they could take your tablet into warranty if you're having problems not related to software. That would be a worse scenario, but we still have no confirmation about this.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] josteink:
They may say so in the EULA, but that only makes it make-belive law. Not actual law which is enforcable.

Try to enforce this in the EU, and see a world of bureaucracy kill your business. Not happening.

No, but if Dell has taken away my abilities to boot any OS I choose from any media I choose on that machine, I will call it fundamentally broken and demand a working replacement.

But OEMs selling PCs usually sell recovery images with stock software you can use to fix your machine yourself. By booting them in the open bootloader.

Asus is not providing these AND they are locking the bootloader. Hence making what is a simple matter of software into an warranty-issue. But oh OOOOOOOOPS if you got to this point, you have pre-emptively agreed to void your warranty.

Oh crap.

This is not the same as in the PC world. You are getting screwed here. You are letting yourself be had.

I've never seen this much irrational hatred against freedom and defense of needlessly locked down systems here on XDA since forever. Jesus christ.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Ins0mniacs:
please read the link i quote:But, in practice, UEFI is quickly becoming a very controversial proposal, because it appears to be a sneaky way for Microsoft to pressure

PC manufacturers into forcing users to run only Windows on their computers

.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] darth_suicune:
The same happens with this. If it isn't software related, it isn't probably happening.

They're providing the unlocker. If Dell would lock your ability to boot any OS you choose, they will void your warranty if you installed any other OS.

I don't believe this is irrational (neither hatred, at least on my side). And I'm pretty much sure nobody defends the locked down systems, we defend the ability to do what you want... being YOUR responsability, and not blame other people if what YOU do "breaks" your device. I asume everyone defending ASUS for the unlocker agrees that if the device is broken and NOT because of anything you did, ASUS should take it and repair/send a replacement, no matter if it's locked or not.

If your software is malfunctioning (as seems to happen with the GPS in the last posts), ASUS is the responsible for it, and they must repair it. If you made changes to the OS, should they repair it? If it's YOUR fault should they take it into warranty? My guess is that this is the reason they void your warranty. And that if the problem is not related to the changes you made, they will just take it for repair, even if you unlocked it.

I agree with you that not ALL the warranty should be voided, just the terms affected by what you changed, but they cannot be asked to fix what you broke.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Ins0mniacs:
http://www.youtube.com/28c3 dont listen to those that know but listen to those that sell hype...cheers the first video is german only

http://www.youtube.com/28c3
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] NastroGlide:
I had a couple paragraphs written here for you, but erased them bc you're not interested in being educated. You just want to ***** and throw out irrational thoughts. So here you go:

IT IS WHAT IT IS. GET OVER IT.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] razialita:
Hi I'm new to tablets so i'd like to ask something regarding unlocking bootloaders and using roms...

Right now I am using Chinese version of TP, which means it doesn't have android market and i can't sync google account on it. Say if someone uploaded a UK rom and I flahsed it onto my chinese TP, can I start using market and sync google account? Also, if that rom is extracted from official updates, will my chinese TP with UK rom receive updates automatically instead of needing to flash the update on manually?

many thanks! :)